Canada Journal – News of the World Articles and videos to bring you the biggest Canadian news stories from across the country every day
Waze can already help you beat traffic, find the fastest route and even avoid the police. Now the Google-owned company is launching a new feature to help predict traffic and road closures caused by big events.
Through the Global Event Partner Program, Waze is inviting applications from marathon organizers, stadium operators, or anyone associated with events that typically cause disruption on the roads. Waze will serve its partners with “custom access” to its traffic management technology and communications channels. In return, Waze wants advance information about planned road closures, as well as real-time updates to traffic information in the area.
The upshot of all of this is that Waze users will receive accurate notifications of planned disruptions, including specific times and dates of the event.
In addition to serving up road closure information, organizers can also convey information about available parking for events. For its launch, Waze says it has brought on board 20 partners around the world, including the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon events in New York, Montreal, Mexico City, Madrid, and elsewhere.
Founded out of Israel in 2007, Waze has built a solid reputation for the way it lets users share real-time traffic data, which is what prompted Google to acquire the company for more than $1 billion back in 2013. Today, Waze still exists as a standalone product with Google Maps and claims more than 50 million monthly users around the world. While Waze has hitherto supported events to forewarn drivers about roads that may be affected, it’s now looking to formalize the process through a two-way partnership in which both sides have something to gain.
Agencies/Canadajournal
